Phew!

(Day 24 of 112)

And he does it again. Admittedly he could have done it sooner without all those unforced errors. But the fact remains that in this killer 5 set match, there could be only one winner. Roger Federer. Oh ya.

Here’s to 6 Wimbledon wins. And getting back to No.1.

Oh and it was good to see Pete Sampras back at Wimbledon after so many years.

Ps: As much as I’m a Federer fan I think Roddick needs mention here. To be honest to the man, he did play a better game. But someone had to lose so that Federer could win right?

Things That Shoudn't Be Allowed...

(Day 24 of 112)

No. 5

Federer non-fans.

It’s just not right. Unnatural even.

Why Federer? It’s the Wimbledon finals duh. What else can I blog about?

Go Federer!

Bollywood At The Olympics

Gymnastics at the Olympics is always fun to watch. Its just brilliant watching these young girls do gravity and anatomy defying moves with hoops (that i cant even move around my waist) and batons (that i dont even attempt to understand) and ribbons (which i only use to make gifts pretty looking). And the fact that these jumps and twirls and leaps and landings are all done with a smile is even more fascinating.

But there is something more brilliant than watching a gymnast strut her stuff. Its watching a group of them do it in absolute sync and perfection right down to the millisecond - the group artistic gymnastics. It was sheer awesomeness what those teams did on the floor. They moved in perfect sync, without missing a beat and without losing sight and grip of hoops and batons that went flying and bouncing all over the place. These girls seemed to move as if by magic (at least to my easily awed mind it felt like that).

They danced on everything from traditional chinese compositions to the theme song from The Gladiator. The audience oohed and aahed in beat with the music. The Russians were flawless and the Chinese a close second. But my favorite team came in sixth. I loved them not for their performance but because they took Bollywood to the Olympics.

Believe it or not, the group from Israel performed their routine on a jazzed and remixed version of Dhoom Tana from Om Shanti Om. When the music started it seemed familiar. And then with my jaw dropping every second (with amazement) and a huge grin spreading across my face (out of sheer glee) i sat back and enjoyed 5 young Israeli girls prancing to Dhoom Tana in their final performance at the Beijing Olympics 2008.

Im still amazed and tickled! :D

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Update: Vijender Kumar sails into the semi-finals (Boxing, 75 kg category).

This victory ensures India of a third medal, bringing the total number of medals won in the 2008 Olympic games to 3, something that hasn't happened before.

On a more cynical note, this also ensures DD sports continued viewership.

Ps: Has anyone noticed how DD sports has jazzed up their Olympics coverage after Bindra won his medal, and even more after our boxers made it to the QF's?

Wrestled In A Bronze

Wrestler Sushil Kumar becomes the second individual medal in the Indian contingent in the Olympic Games 2008. He has wrestled his way to a bronze medal, 56 yrs after Jadhav won a bronze in the same sport.

I must say that it feels good to see an Indian player on the podium. And what it makes it even more special is that this is a player who is truly dedicated to his sport. His is not a face we see endorsing sportswear or detergents. His is not a name we see linked with filmi bimbos. His is not even a name that sports editors in our country might have been familiar with.

But after today, his will be the name associated with an Olympic medal.

I think this should serve as an example to the other more sought ofter sportspersons in our country. Adulation and contracts are not the only thing that define a sportsman. In fact they are the last things that should do so. What should stand with you is finding satisfaction in winning and bringing glory to a flag and not a bank account.

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In other news,

A couple of minutes back Jitendar Kumar lost his QF round at the Olympics 2008 in Flyweight Boxing. This, on the heels of Akhil Kumar’s loss is not good news for India’s medal tally. And this definitely increases the pressure and expectations from Vijendar Kumar who has his QF match in a few hours time.
But on my part, even if Vijendar doesn’t make it to the semi finals, our boxers need to be applauded. After all, for the first time in several years, India still has some involvement in the games even though it’s the 12th day.

So I really hope that whatever the outcome of the next match may be, our media and the people appreciate the efforts put in by these sportsmen who have fought their way to be where they are. I hope that they get the support and encouragement that is now crucial if they are to be mentally and physically fit for London 2012. And I hope that they themselves value their efforts and continue to fight for the glory.

Retired Hurt

Sania Mirza retires hurt mid-way through the match.

It makes you wonder doesn't it how serious our players are about fitness and training.

Monday 11th Aug: One gold medal and one injury.

Gold, Adulation and Then What?

(Warning: Long Post)

Abhinav Bindra has made Indian sports history by being the first individual to win a gold medal at the Olympic games.

News channels went giddy with excitement and every channel had the same 60 secs of video on loop, showing a calm and smiling Abhinav on the podium receiving his medal.

Everyone spent the morning in front of the television or online, wanting to be part of this historic event.

Anyone who can be interviewed about this is being. So we have MS Gill, our sports minister congratulating himself on national television for Abhinav’s medal. This is being touted as a shining moment in our history and one that is full of pride and honour.

Bindra is the latest champion on the block. He is the new headline. Adulation and praise is being showered from all directions in the form of words, money and even life-time free rail travel!

It is definite that Abhinav Bindra will come home to a hero’s welcome.
But the question now is, will he be maintained as the hero he is being made today?

How many of us knew about him and his prowess with the rifle before today? Ok, so probably was mentioned as winning the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2001 and gotten mention with his Commonwealth games gold medal in 2002. But I’m sure that in the visual clue round of a quiz show, there wouldn’t have been many to identify him correctly.

Today money is being showered onto Bindra for his achievement. Everyone is giving more than the other to this young shooter. Suddenly he is their blue-eyed boy. But where were these people (with their cheques) when Abhinav’s family was spending their own money on building him a shooting range in their house? Where were the sponsors when Abhinav attended competitions across the world?

In all of this, it is Bindra’s parents who are to be congratulated and appreciated for their efforts and support. In a country which recognises only cricket and cricketers, to have supported their son’s talent and ambition and to have funded it is rare. And for the most part, those who do aspire to shine in the field of sports, away from cricket, do not have the means to do so. Where are the supporters then? Where is the funding? Where are the facilities?

The Breaking News is that this is India’s first gold medal in 28 years and the first individual medal. Has anyone thought to wonder why? Why is that in this country with a population of more than a billion we have failed to train even one person to win at the international arena?

It is this apathy that disgusts. I don’t know if the men’s hockey team didn’t qualify because they weren’t good enough or because they were trying to make a statement. A wake up call to those who only see the money and glamour of cricket and fail to realise that in the field of sports, cricket is only one game played by a handful of countries (and the god-forsaken T-20 by even less) while other sports like tennis, badminton, weight lifting, shooting, hockey, swimming etc are more international and probably deserve more encouragement and support.

It is sad that it required a gold medal to get the recognition and support of our government. I don’t know whether they choose to ignore, or are just too stupid to recognize that gold medals are not waiting to drop into the hats of the untrained. When will they appreciate the fact that training and support and facilities are more important for our players than having more than a couple of dozen government officials accompanying them to the Olympics just so that they can come back saying that we tried our best but next year we will win.

So today Abhinav Bindra is India’a poster boy. I just hope that he doesn’t get rolled up and relegated to the back of the cupboard to gather dust.

Today, a gold and adulation. Then what?

Yes, Federer Didn't Win

In a match that could have gone either way (at least after the heaven sent rain shower) lady luck decided that it’s time she got out of her extremely comfortable resting abode in Federer’s tennis racquet and swung her alluring self onto Nadal’s side of the court.

To be fair to both players, they didn’t let their fan downs. From the word go, the match was a nail biter, with every point being better than the first. Tennis doesn’t get any better than this.

Now I can’t wait for Wimbledon 2009.

Go Federer

Wimbeldon finals tomorrow.

Federer vs. Nadal

Outcome of previous two meetings on the same court makes me smile and do the happy jig.

Please no one say third time is the charm because i might just kill you and saving the world from bad taste in sportsmen will be my defence in court.

Will put up new post after the match. Will be about a) graceful swiss players who rule the court or b) wild haired spaniards who lucked out!

Name Of The Game

Im writing this as the Wimbeldon Men's final proceeds. Not to say that im not watching the game. Im merely making use of the time Nadal gets his knee fixed in. And ok, so im smiling a bit at the thought of Nadal with an injured knee in a crucial match against Federer!! Allright...so i did a few 'balle balle' movements when time out was called. So sue me.

I love Federer. I dislike Nadal. Not that he has done anything to deserve it except beat Federer a couple of times (and Nadal fans reading this, please dont give me stats on how many times he has done it and where and when and the exact score. Im really not interested)

This post is not about Nadal bashing. And as much as i would like to, its not about Federer either.

Its simply about how players become so much more than the game itself. In the beginning it is the game that defines the player(s). Give it time and brilliance, and its the players that define the game. People watch the game not for love of the game anymore, but for the love/admiration/awe/anything you want it to be, of the player(s).

I mean, my sister and i sat and watched about 6 straight hours of tennis, not because we eat and drink and breathe tennis. But because we wanted to watch the players playing those games. We rooted for the underdog. We cheered when 'our' player scored a point. We 'oohed' and 'aahed' when the ball was sent into the net. We sat and watched so much tennis because the final match had Federer vs. Nadal (sigh...as much as i dont want this to become about them, it comes around to that....!!)

What i want to say is that a game is only as interesting as its players are.
And since i really just wanted to express this, i'll end this here!

Ps: Federer won!!! yay!!!!!